They say you never forget your first loves and one of mine was Carmina Burana – it’s immediate and high impact. Even before I was properly into music I was into this… and you will be too! There’s really nothing like the sound of a huge choir and orchestra: it’s awesome stuff! Listening time: 35mins … Listen

This is a journey of discovery for me, exploring some musical detective work and blatant speculation with Songs from the 12/13th Century Carmina Burana- drinking, love and wickedness and all hugely entertaining! New music to me and lots to enjoy. Listening time 26 mins… Listen

Visionary, mystic, scientist, naturalist, medic, nun and more: Hildegard of Bingen, born 1098, is also one of the very first known composers – and savvy enough to preserve her legacy! Her life was extraordinary in any era and her music is timeless, moving and special. Listening time = 17mins (intro conversation 7′, music 10′)… Listen

300 years ago JS Bach was writing music at the cutting edge – with the newest instruments and freshest ideas. I’m joined by Jason Lai, who says Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No.5 is an ‘unbelievable box of delights’ in our conversation about this conversational music, that’s both moving and full of life. Listen time 34 mins.… Listen

I love the final September burst of summer and this piece – Samuel Barber’s Summer Music – is the perfect accompaniment. Languid, hazy and slightly wistful. (Listening time 16 mins)… Listen

My daughter’s bed time reading inspires a brief trip to the opera, for some great singing – high drama and high silliness from Mozart’s Magic Flute. Listen time 14 mins… Listen

Sibelius takes us on an all-encompassing journey from the musical spring to the wide open ocean: it’s organic, generous, inevitable and uplifting. Total listen: 35 mins… Listen

Full of exuberance and swagger, Roman Carnival is great music from Berlioz, the man who wrote the book on how to write for orchestra in glorious technicolour. Total listen time c14’… Listen

George Gershwin spent two hectic weeks on holiday in Cuba and returned with a case full of percussion instruments, latin spirit and musical inspiration. Total listening time c14 mins… Listen